Can’t lump together

The time has come for replacing confusing rhetoric with factual doctor’s data. It’s time for the lesson about babies who are diagnosed intersex at birth. A Medline Plus article talks about intersex as a group of conditions presenting various discrepancies in genitalia as well as many other disorders of sex developments. Medical data show that frequency and complexities of sexual birth defects, development disorders and gender misdiagnoses are more common than I could have imagined, and they present real challenges for individuals affected.

For way too long groups in our society have accepted misinformation and misunderstandings concerning the terms gay and lesbian. They have been used to label many who may actually suffer from birth defects affecting sex.

It’s easy to accept structural birth defects such as a missing hand, arm, leg or foot because we see them. We also understand that people are born with hearing, vision or heart defects because medical data tell us. However, it is more difficult to understand that sexual identity reported on birth certificates is not foolproof because of unseen birth defects that seem to fall in a category not to be discussed in public. In an effort to provide Mom and Dad a definitive answer on their newborn’s gender, doctors, many times with parental input, just pick one. As it turns out, Alfred and Edna may have actually been Freda and Ed.

We know there are those who practice marital infidelity and those who practice homosexuality. What we don’t know is how many of those who have been labeled homosexual are actually cases of sexual birth defects or developmental sex disorders.

Lumping all couples who do not look like an average male/female couple into the homosexual category can be like saying all married people are practicing infidelity.

My hope is that enough of these medical facts become public knowledge, resulting in understanding that puts an end to mislabeling, irrational judgment and social unrest. SHARON THOMAS Jonesboro